Process of forming cork balls.



F. E. CHESTER. PROCESS OF FORMING CORK BALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

wuem/boz 71277.4 fiesisr COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH cn.,wAsmNrrraN, n c,

FRANK E. GHESTER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PROCESS OF FORMING CORK BALLS.

menses.

Application filed July 9, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 7, 19 13.

Serial No. 778,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. Crrnsrnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of lthode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Forming Cork Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new process of forming a cork ball of the class adapted to be attached to an elastic cord and used as a so-called return ball, and the object of the invention is to provide an improved method of operating upon the body portion of cork usually in the shape of a cube, by punching, drilling or broaching a hole through said body, then forcing a pin of greater length and of harder material than said body through this hole with its opposite ends extending beyond the body, then mounting both projecting ends of the pin in a rotary driving head whereby the body thus held is rotated rapidly. The head with its rotating body is then moved toward a rapidly oppositely rotating shaping and forming cutting or abraiding wheel, having a concaved semi-circular working face, quickly reducing the body to spherical shape, and after the body is thus formed the ends of the pin are cut off flush with the surface of the ball and an elastic cord is attached to one end of said pin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the ball in section, with the wooden core extending t-herethrough with its ends flush with the surface of the ball, and an elastic cord attached to the core portion of said body. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the outline of a rough body of cork from which the ball is subsequently formed and the ends of the core pin as extending beyond said body. Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the cork body as being mounted in a rotary driving head and showing means whereby said head may be moved to present the body to a rapidly rotating cutting or abraiding forming or shaping wheel.

Referring to the drawing 10 designates the cork body which is preferably constructed of molded ground cork which is usually first formed in long square bars and cut off the desired length forming cubes. A central hole 11 1S then bored, punched or broached through this body and a pin or spindle 12 of wood suitable material, which is stiffer and more rigid than'the cork, is forced under pressure through this central hole. This pin is preferably square in shape so as to form a key and to prevent the body from turning thereon while being rotated in the driving head and acted upon by the former, as hereinafter described. This pin is long enough to extend beyond each end of said body whereby it may be readily mounted in and grasped or gripped and retained by the rotating center members in said driving head. This driving head may be of any suitable construction. I have, however, shown the same as comprising a plate 13 mounted on ways 16 to be moved longitudh nally by means of an operating lever 17, and said plate as supporting the spindle 23 in bearings 1a and in which spindle the ends of the pin 12 are firmly mounted. This head, including the spindle and the cork body mounted therein, is then caused to rotate rapidly by power applied to the pulley 15 through the belt not shown. I have also mounted a forming wheel 18 on the shaft 19 in bearings 20 and rotate the same rapidly in a direction opposite to that of the spindle and cork body by a belt not shown through the pulley 21. The working face of this forming wheel is concaved and substantiaily semi-circular in form and may be constructed with a plurality of cutters if desired, but 1 preferably form this wheel of abraiding material such as emery, corundum or the like, whereby when the rapidly rotating cork body is moved into contact with the oppositely rotating wheel said body is quickly reduced and formed into the desired spherical shape. By this process of employing agrinding material it will be seen that the surface of the ball is left perfectly smooth and ready to receive its coating of paint by a single operation. The finished sphere is then removed from the rotary head and the ends of the pin out o flush with the surface of the ball. The elastic cord 22 is then attached to the ball by first forming a hole in one end of the wooden core a little larger than the end of the cord, after the cord is inserted therein, and a plug or wedge is driven into the hole to bind and firmly secure the elastic to the ball. A

or other ring or loop may be attached to or formed on the opposite end of the elastic cord to be passed over the finger of the person operating theball.

It will be seen from the above that the Wooden core performs a double function. First, it supports the body hile being formed, greatly facilitating the shaping operation, and second, it provides a firm support to which the elastic cord may be con neoted.

I claim:

A method of forming a cork ball consisting of p-rovidin a body of cor of any convenient shape, orminga hole through its of harder material center, forcing a pin of greater length and than said body through both ends projecting, enprojecting ends and rotating said hole leaving shaping Wheel, and subsequently cutting off the ends of the pin flush With the face of the ball.

In testimony whereof I aflix in presenceof two WltIlQSSfBS;

FRANK E. CHESTER.

my signature 2 Witnesses:

HOWARD E. HARLOW, E. I. OGDEN.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washi'ngton, D. G. 

